I Don't Even Know If I Want to Be a Doctor Anymore
Is Doubt Creeping in?
Welcome Back!
So…
You’ve been staring at your MCAT prep book for 45 minutes, and all you can think is: ‘Why am I even doing this?’
This happens more often than people admit, especially in high-pressure, high-burnout fields like pre-med.
Doubt doesn’t automatically mean you’re “not cut out” — it means you’re human.
Making Space for Doubt
Suppressing doubt often makes it louder.
Why doubt is not failure: it’s feedback.
As a college upperclassman, I was fresh off the chaos COVID-19 caused, and doubt filled a lot of my future plans. I was still interested in medicine, but my journey toward it began feeling cloudy. I began taking a lot of anthropology and sociology courses, which exposed me to the depths of health disparities. It made me see a new side of medicine and learn the limitations of what a doctor can do. This combined with the difficulty of finding clinical experience, made me question my path.
Letting myself sit in this doubt was difficult but also the best thing I could have done. It eventually led me to pursue an MPH where I gained the knowledge and skills to work on community health initiatives and healthcare systems building. This satisfied a lot of the doubt I felt toward the end of college. This did not dispel my passion for medicine, it changed the tone of it. I’m now driven to become a physician with a more nuanced, deeper understanding of the medical field.
Signs you might be burnt out vs. actually losing interest:
Emotional exhaustion vs. loss of curiosity
If you find yourself wanting to push forward and get better, but get frustrated when brain fog or mental shutdowns hit, it may mean you’re emotionally exhausted and need to take a break. Sometimes this also means rethinking your current schedule to allow more consistent rest.
Feeling disconnected vs. no longer valuing the end goal
If you still go through your normal day-to-day schedule, but feel emotionally numb—like events are occurring around you, but you are just watching it as an observer instead of actively engaging in it, this can also be a sign that you are burnt out. Rest is not optional and it will not stop you from reaching your goals.
Journal prompt: “If I didn’t have to explain my choice to anyone, would I still choose this path?”
Questions to Reconnect with Your “Why”
What first sparked my interest in medicine?
When was the last time I felt inspired about healthcare? What was I doing?
What aspects of this path still excite me?
If I imagine my life 10 years from now as a physician — how does it feel? (Energized? Heavy? Neutral?)
Who in my life can help me talk this through without judgment?
What to Do if Your Path Is Shifting
Step 1: Take the pressure off — give yourself permission to explore, not decide immediately.
Step 2: Get a reality check — talk to professionals in different healthcare roles (PA, NP, PT, public health, research).
Step 3: Try short-term experiences — shadowing, volunteering, informational interviews.
Step 4: Assess values — does your ideal career align with how you want to live (schedule, salary, emotional load, work environment)?
Step 5: Remember the sunk-cost myth — prior effort is never wasted; skills and knowledge transfer.
Alumni Story: “I Took a Break from Pre-Med, and Here’s What Happened”
Let’s meet Sally (real person, but pseudo name used): She was a bioengineering major, initially on the pre-med track.
The breaking point: She faced burnout and a loss of motivation as she took her pre-req science courses. She began realizing it wasn’t just due to the rigor, but the fact that she didn’t fully align with the end goal anymore. “Maybe she wasn’t as passionate about medicine as she thought?”
During their break: She began exploring other interests and realized she loved travel, research, and the arts. Her passion for medicine was still there, but she wanted to try exploring other vocations.
What they learned: She LOVED making music—but as a hobby. After a brief stint interning at a music distribution company, she knew the industry was not meant for her. She still loved travel and research, but gained clarity that direct service is what fulfilled her. She kept going back to her passion for medicine.
Outcome: She returned to medicine with renewed purpose.
It’s important to note that even if this wasn’t the outcome. If Sally found a different career in healthcare or public service that felt right, that is ALSO a win! Make sure the perception of prestige or status isn’t the primary motivator for your decision to pursue a career you have no interest in.
It’s okay to pause. You’re not falling behind — you’re finding your way.
Hang In There <3
Reminder that uncertainty is a sign you’re thinking critically about your future, not failing.
Medicine is a calling, but it’s also a choice, and you’re allowed to re-choose at any point.
Whether your path leads you to the OR, the classroom, the lab, or somewhere you can’t even picture yet — it’s still yours to shape.